Gathering 2013 - How do you think this will affect pricing, events, crowds, etc?

Green Dragon · Guru

Gathering 2013 - How do you think this will affect pricing, events, crowds, etc?

tony2phones · Guru

Personally I don't think it will make the slightest difference there is nothing being put forward that does not already exist, no festivals listed that are not on existing calendars and I don't think there will be any new cheap offers on Airfare or Accommodation. This is a marketing exercise aimed at the Diaspora who may or may not decide to visit Ireland in 2013 rather than any other date.

http://www.thegatheringireland.com/home.aspx

Michele Erdvig · Host

I think the publicity campaign might entice a few more Americans to Ireland in 1213. But as Tony suggested, it is just a Tourism Ireland marketing campaign. They come up with a new one each year. This year it was "Jump Into Ireland". They were heavily targeting Great Britain recently. Now they have moved on to the USA.

You will see more tourists in August than in your usual shoulder season trips. That is to be expected since it is high season. Personally, I don't see a great influx of Americans "gathering" in Ireland in 2013. Hope I'm proved wrong!

yesiree · Guru

I think tourism will be up a bit in 2013... partly because of the campaign, but mostly because of the tourism cycle.

The concept of The Gathering has a much better hook than most past campaigns. The thing I think is missing right now is the "here's why you should go in 2013." As Tony said, most things on the list happen every year.

The one good thing about The Gathering is that it's giving tourism representatives something specific to talk about... not just the usual "there's never been a better time to visit beautiful Ireland." It's also getting some of the counties to think a little differently about how they promote themselves ,and it's starting a conversation about who exactly the diaspora are... I think it's very difficult for anyone on the "outside" to truly understand what it means to be Irish-American or Irish-Canadian or Irish-Australian... etc... and that leads to a lot of misguided efforts.

I think the groups that offer something new and significant for 2013-only will be the ones who have a real impact on tourism. My thoughts would be well-organized, highly-personalized genealogy concierge programs; discounts or a small gifts for those who show their passport when making a purchase; regularly-scheduled, free walking tours of towns that don't usually have them; and programs centered on meeting-a-local at a pub, cafe, or sporting match. If I knew a town was offering some of those types of things, I'd consider going out of my way to visit them.

They're also pushing families to hold reunions in Ireland in 2013. That could be a good way to boost group tours, but I'm not sure how they are marketing those... I haven't seen or heard anyone promoting those in a way that reaches the right audience... between now and the New Year is the time to give families the materials they need to start recruiting the rest of the family for a trip.

tony2phones · Guru

The South East Galway XO have been running this type of thing for the past couple of years down here out of Loughrea HQ. small group of Diaspora with local genealogy taken around for a week and meeting the locals as well as the usual tourist sights. Seems to go down very well and the project stemming from this pilot scheme is taking shape. I am not sure that a couple of years experience will make next year as big as they would have people believe on a National rather than local scale.

http://www.irelandxo.com/press-releases/schedule-2012-week-welcomes-south-east-galway

Green Dragon · Guru

So, as soon as I saw replies, I saw an email in my inbox from Priceline, advertising that 'fares from Pittsburgh to Shannon have dropped 18%'! :)

Corey, I think those sorts of tours would help immensely, and would love to see more of them, as you say, targeted correctly. We shall see!

Michele Erdvig · Host

The thing that will really entice more people to travel to Ireland is coming out of the recession. When jobs are non-existent or in jeopardy people are not going to travel. Travel is a luxury item. In a recession people are just trying to survive. When the economy rebounds and people have more disposable income and feel safe they will travel more.

I do agree that is is a good concept. But it needs to be heavily advertised to the general public. We know about it because of our particular interest in Ireland. But how many average Irish Americans know about it?